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AIBU?

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Original poster

To postpone a tutoring session due to late payment (still not received)

43 replies

MoneyMakingTipsWelcome · 12/04/2026 19:36

I have a parent who agreed to paying four tutoring sessions in advance as a block in order to get a discounted price - more of a discount than I originally wanted to give but anyway.
I sent her terms and conditions saying your regular slot is yours only after payment is received and to please send payment at least 24 hours before the session.
She was late with her first payment - around midnight after multiple reminders but it was a holiday season so I figured she was genuinely busy.
She used up the last of four sessions last Wednesday and Thursday I sent her a reminder regarding payment and a reminder that her son should sent completed work I set - I mark, grade and plan the next session accordingly.
She saw message, sent the work but no payment. I reminded her this afternoon and she's just told me she was out, will send it later and what time is tmrws session.
I've responded I will need to postpone due to late payment. Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Clementine12 · 12/04/2026 21:02

She sounds batshit and this situation is not going to improve. I would just send a short reply that the current arrangement isn’t working

Crunchymum · 12/04/2026 20:59

So she was paying you for another block of x4 sessions to get a discount but you needed full payment before you agreed to do session 1 of 4 @MoneyMakingTipsWelcome ?

Has she actually paid now?

If you have someone who can fill the slot/s I'd cut this one loose.

Out of interest I assume that message was a c+p, is English not their first language? Any chance something has been lost in translation? (IE she hasn't realised / read the T&C that payment needs to be made at least 24 hours in advance of 1st session?)

Hatty65 · 12/04/2026 20:58

That message is barely intelligible. I would probably decide I was no longer prepared to deal with them. Your terms and conditions were clear - if she has 'issues' or didn't understand them then that's her problem.

ThejoyofNC · 12/04/2026 20:55

Tell her not to pay you for the block and to find someone else. What a stupid message she sent. I can hardly make head or tail of it.

BridgetJonesV2 · 12/04/2026 20:51

Walk away from it. People like this aren't worth the money you earn from them as you're so stressed over it. DH and I run our own business and our "pain in the arse" radars for clients are rarely wrong.

Original poster
MoneyMakingTipsWelcome · 12/04/2026 20:48

I've received a very angry response from her - see below. Just to clarify I was not expecting payment 4 days in advance - I sent her a reminder 4 days in advance so that she would have ample time to make payment before the session.

'I am really disappoint with the behabiour.
Lesson is tomorrow and you will receive money this night in advance of four sesdions.
Don,t you think Thursday was too early.
I trust you to send 4 lessons money in advance.
Once you said I can,t do now I have small child and my husband is not home , can ee change the time I understand and said yes but you don,t understand my issues.
May be some one else has done wrong but it is not me.
Please don't make this eith me as I am already struggling with some other issues.
You have to till me in advance that you need 4 days before next 4 lessons payment.'

I think I could do without the hassle of this woman now.

OP posts:
Original poster
MoneyMakingTipsWelcome · 12/04/2026 20:19

LoveSandbanks · 12/04/2026 20:17

FFS, She was out? She can’t make a quick payment from her phone? Its 2026!!!

She’s an absolute piss taker. I’d fill the slot with someone else who pays on time without multiple reminders!

That's what I was thinking! It takes 2mins to make a payment - esp if it's a previous recipient of payment.
And please don't tell me you've been out since Thursday afternoon lol

OP posts:
LoveSandbanks · 12/04/2026 20:17

FFS, She was out? She can’t make a quick payment from her phone? Its 2026!!!

She’s an absolute piss taker. I’d fill the slot with someone else who pays on time without multiple reminders!

Delici · 12/04/2026 19:48

The only thing you’ve done wrong is not demanding payment before now.

Original poster
MoneyMakingTipsWelcome · 12/04/2026 19:47

I have asked for four sessions payment in one go - so that's usually a month's worth. She did tell me via phone before we began that she had no issues paying up front.
I do require that this block of payment is made at least 24hours before that first session

OP posts:
Createausername1970 · 12/04/2026 19:44

You are not being unreasonable at all.

But surely the discounted price only applies when your clients PAY for multiple sessions up front, not just because they have agreed to book them?

This parent may decide not to book any more as you are now being strict about payment, so you may end up putting this down to experience, but going forward don't discount unless they are parting with money and it's in your bank account

Meredusoleil · 12/04/2026 19:43

I usually ask for half a term's fees altogether up front before starting the first session.

Merseymum1980 · 12/04/2026 19:41

No, messers like this can mess up lots of things for you regarding proffits etc

LIZS · 12/04/2026 19:40

Yanbu, do you request payment at least a working day in advance? The problem is at such short notice you are unlikely to fill the space so the bigger loss is yours. Maybe you need to request payment for a whole block in advance of the first session.

Roads · 12/04/2026 19:39

Not at all unreasonable. It sounds like she's incredibly flaky and you would be required to chase her before each session so not a complete loss if she doesn't pay and you no longer tutor her child.

Cupofteaandagoodbookthensleep · 12/04/2026 19:39

i think it’s good to set a firm boundary. If you went ahead with no payment, then she’ll just keep pushing. This will make her realise that you won’t put up with being messed around and hopefully get her act together in future.

Twasasurprise · 12/04/2026 19:39

YANBU. I hope you can afford to hold firm. She seemingly doesn't respect your time, or you.

rubyslippers · 12/04/2026 19:39

You’re running a business and your payment terms should be respected
if parents can’t do that, YANBU AT ALL